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British Virgin Islands

The sands are of a striking chalky white, the seas a shimmering crystalline blue and the sunsets second to none – welcome to the British Virgin Islands, one of the world’s most illustrious havens for sun-seeking hedonists. Typically the privileged domain of moguls, models and millionaires, this smattering of lushly forested islands offers countless secluded bays, pristine coral reefs and an infectious Creole vibe that will sweep you off your feet and into a hammock before you can say: “another rum cocktail”.

Charlie Locher

Ellen Woenne

This trip was fantastic! We had a good group, and Dean was a great skipper. The trip was relaxing and fun and you can't beat the location. The pace of the trip was perfect - we had different spots to visit every day in a leisurely manner. None of the group wanted the trip to end!

Review submitted
08 Apr 2014

British Virgin Islands trip reviews

Our British Virgin Islands trips score an average of 4.55
out of 5
based on 11 reviews in the last year.

Best time to visit British Virgin Islands

Essentially there exists no bad time to visit the British Virgin Islands: just good and better. Blessed with balmy nights, cooling trade winds and average afternoon temperatures that tend to hover around the mid-twenties, the weather is pretty idyllic year-round. This being said, the winter months of December to May are the driest, with rains on the increase during the summer months and peaking in September. Hurricane season is from June to November, but they aren’t a very frequent occurrence.

Geography and environment

The 60+ islands comprising this tropical archipelago come in two varieties: steep volcanic rises with a typically rugged terrain (the great majority) and smaller, relatively flat, coral islets. Only 16 of these are inhabited (and some of these privately owned). At a paltry 550 metres, Tortola’s Sage Mountain is the territory’s highest point and Anegada – commonly referred to as ‘the Drowned Island’ – the lowest lying.

Top Picks

Top 5 cocktails of the British Virgin Islands

1. The Painkiller

The British Virgin Islands boast some seriously fabulous fruity rum cocktails – the most legendary being The Painkiller. Essentially just dark rum mixed with orange and pineapple juice and topped with shaved ice, a dollop of coconut cream and sprinkle of nutmeg, the drink is so-named for its ability to dull morning pains invariably incurred from downing too many of these the night before.

2. The Bushwacker

An icy blend of rum, vodka, Kahlua, Baileys, amaretto and chocolate, this milkshake makes for one delectable dessert – albeit one you’ll want to steer the kids well clear of.

3. Beach Tomato

Not quite as common as The Painkiller and Bushwacker but fare more potent, the Beach Tomato is a heady fusion of banana rum, pineapple and orange juice, Cointreau and generous lashings of Bacardi 151. Despite the name, it doesn’t include tomatoes.

4. Limin’ de Coconut

All across the Caribbean, ‘limin’ is Creole slang for hanging out. So think of this as you spending some quality time with a coconut. If that sounds a bit too Tom Hanksy for your liking, know that you’ll also be becoming acquainted with 1½ oz of light rum, 1 oz of lime juice and a glass full of crushed ice. This one also doesn’t include tomatoes.

5. The Honesty Cocktail

Just up from Little Harbour on Jost Van Dyke, perched above chalky white sands with exquisite views over turquoise waters, is the aptly named ‘Ivan’s Stress Free Bar’. Things are so stress-free at this bar that instead of a bartender there will sometimes just be a note saying: ‘make your drink, start your tab, pay it when you leave.’ So this is the place to put tomatoes into your cocktail if you really want to.

FAQs on British Virgin Islands

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS:
Australia: No - Not required
Belgium: No - Not required
Canada: No - Not required
Germany: No - Not required
Ireland: No - Not required
Netherlands: No - Not required
New Zealand: No - Not required
South Africa: No - Not required
Switzerland: No - Not required
UK: No - Not required
USA: No - Not required

As the British Virgin Islands primarily caters to high-end tourism, tipping is customary in pretty much all cases from taxi drivers to bell-hops. Most restaurants and hotels will add a 5-10% service charge to bills, but if the meal or service has been particularly good, it’s still appropriate to leave a 5% tip.

Internet access exists in many resorts and hotels and there are a few internet cafés in the larger towns. Wi-Fi subscription services can be bought from BVI Marine, which provides wireless access at all harbours.

Mobile phone coverage in the islands is excellent and roaming agreements exist with some international companies.

Health and Safety

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously, and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

From US?

From UK?

The World Health Organisation

Responsible Travel

British Virgin Islands Travel Tips

Intrepid is committed to travelling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. It's important to remember that what may be acceptable behaviour, dress and language in your own country, may not be appropriate in another. Please keep this in mind while travelling.

Top responsible travel tips for British Virgin Islands

1. Be considerate of the British Virgin Islands’s customs, traditions, religion and culture

2. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water instead